Master Techniques.

[DJZeMigL]

sorry m8, there is no discussion possible about how much better a mastering will sound when donne properly by the right people at the right place. It's all they do in they're lives all they're lives, also they have a very objective hear whilst we are 2 attached 2 each and every sound so we tend 2 not take right decisions like leaving certain sounds out or very low in the mix or eq. a certain way.
Mind u we're not discussing price, mind u that I've talked about some1 how really knows what he is doing...

On the other hand we all want 2 learn and achieve the best result possible at the prodution stage.. but there is a very fine balance between making it a little better and overdoing it (ending up with a dead track! :( )

So what can u do 2 make yer sound better... first concentrate as much as u can on make yer sounds as correctly leveled as possible (ex. if we need a really loud kick most of times we over do it by about 6-8 dbs... try muting and unmuting 2 check levels)... keep and eye on yer VU and try lowering the levels of the most important sound in yer mix, use the mute 2 make sure u can hav' em lounder or lower with out losing the impact u want but also with out making it scream!! If u need go back and program the midi velocity, patterns etc.. so the sound level is more steady.

if u have a compressor on yer kicks (or other sounds), every time u have a break or some silent bits, play the sounds 1-2 bars b4 u want' em in the mix, but have the fader muted, now release the mute only when they should come in... this avoid the first sound which generally "overshoots" the comp (depending on the attack/ thresh/ ration settings of course)... try and have a very steady level on the overal mix, u can also overdrive the master a little bit 2 get some very very lite distortion/ limiting which will in a way kill some mad peaks and make yer track sound slightly sweeter...

hope this helps..


if u can't get a dat get a cd-r... MD is just no good!


Z

[Mindful]

So how should i be presenting my tracks to the dude doing the mastering?
Should i turn up with my tracks as good sounding as i can get it to my ears on dat or cd?
(i only have a CDR)and he/she will make it sound as good as they can :?:

[The Teknoist.]

try subtractive eq-ing.

[DJZeMigL]

"...So how should i be presenting my tracks to the dude doing the mastering?
Should i turn up with my tracks as good sounding as i can get it to my ears on dat or cd? ..."


DAT is generally better but lost of ppl are working more with Cd now, so it is just fine.. ... Try doing very lite tweaks 2 yer master (so u don't fuc* up, also this way u keep learning) and always keep a raw (unmastered version). U can even b a sneaky little bast*rd and give in the mastered one hear the comments and then so.. ohhh my god what a mistake that was just a test cd, my bad ;) .. here's the "real" final version (raw)... :)

Z

[Mindful]

;) cheers Mig L
what about compression on the master i know theres a lot of info in the old post but so much information hurts my head after a while
what do you mean by subtractive eq-ing Teknoist(is that Mike :?: )

[DJZeMigL]

basically go the correct way about eq. i.e. don't add gain 2 the freq. u want 2 enhace, cut a little bit of the others... the "simple" theory about it is that we luv LOUD so when u crank up a bit it always sounds nicer that b4, so it's hard 2 eq!

Comp. make sure u don't reduce 2 much... up till 3-4 db of comp (gain redution max)... use more of the "overdrive2 technique.

I know some old school producers still send the master out of they're studio mixers into a channel of they're OLD analog Dj mixers and crank up the gain, go about the same with the master on it.. and just reduce the input on the dat so it doesn't clip... the thing is they luv the "warmth" that this sort of mild distortion adds 2 the sound .. also they're effectively doing a bit o limiting on the peaks, as a result the average level of they're mixers increases quite a bit...!!!

Z

[Mindful]

"overdrive2 technique :?:

[Mindful]

I know some old school producers still send the master out of they're studio mixers into a channel of they're OLD analog Dj mixers and crank up the gain, go about the same with the master on it.. and just reduce the input on the dat so it doesn't clip... the thing is they luv the "warmth" that this sort of mild distortion adds 2 the sound .. also they're effectively doing a bit o limiting on the peaks, as a result the average level of they're mixers increases quite a bit...!!!

sounds cool will be playing with this tonight
cheers Z ;)

[DJZeMigL]

sorry ... fingers faster than the eye!! lol ...
I ment...

"overdrive" technique....

example 1...
"...send the master out of they're studio mixers into a channel of they're OLD analog Dj mixers and crank up the gain, go about the same with the master on it.. and just reduce the input on the dat so it doesn't clip... the thing is they luv the "warmth" that this sort of mild distortion adds 2 the sound .. also they're effectively doing a bit o limiting on the peaks, as a result the average level of they're mixers increases quite a bit...!!! ..."

so in fact u are "overdriving" the mixer's channel with it's gain/ trim and also with the master


example 2 ..
"...u can also overdrive the master a little bit 2 get some very very lite distortion/ limiting which will in a way kill some mad peaks and make yer track sound slightly sweeter... "
basically the same but on yer studio mixer. send all yer tracks 2 a sub (and make sure u kill those tracks and the sub from the master) use it's direct out and bring it back in on a stereo channel overdrive a bit with the gain/ trim pot, send (only) that channel 2 the master.. record the output!

Z

[acidchild]

example 2 ..
"...u can also overdrive the master a little bit 2 get some very very lite distortion/ limiting which will in a way kill some mad peaks and make yer track sound slightly sweeter... "
basically the same but on yer studio mixer. send all yer tracks 2 a sub (and make sure u kill those tracks and the sub from the master) use it's direct out and bring it back in on a stereo channel overdrive a bit with the gain/ trim pot, send (only) that channel 2 the master.. record the output!

Z

This sounds like a swell idea! When i get my new mixer, i will have to give this a try!

[j_s]

basically go the correct way about eq. i.e. don't add gain 2 the freq. u want 2 enhace, cut a little bit of the others... the "simple" theory about it is that we luv LOUD so when u crank up a bit it always sounds nicer that b4, so it's hard 2 eq!

Z

I've never really got my around why subtractive EQ is better than additive...

For example, sure pulling down all frequencies other than, say, 500hz (7 turning the channel up again) would be exactly the same as just boosting the 500...

Or am I missing the point and the idea behind subtractive EQing is only dropping the freqs that are absolutely unnecessary & keeping the 'neutral' parts of the sound in?

[DJZeMigL]

it's better cause it's technically easier 2 cut without adding much noise than boosting!

Also it's harder for us 2 decide what sounds better when the louder u get the "better" it generally sounds (even if it doesn't)...

Z